Commission to decide fairgrounds parking deal

DEL MAR  The Del Mar Fairgrounds could lose about 2,600 parking spaces — more than double what it had planned — under a new proposal coming before the California Coastal Commission today.

The proposal is part of a permit the fairgrounds needs in order to keep using undeveloped land near the San Dieguito River for parking and seasonal events. In exchange for the permit, the fairgrounds must surrender a portion of nearby land and restore it to its natural wetland habitat. How much land remains a point of contention.

Under an initial proposal considered by the Coastal Commission last month, the fairgrounds offered to restore 9.5 acres known as the south overflow parking lot — a loss of roughly 1,200 parking spaces.

But environmental groups and members of the San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority said that plan didn’t go far enough. At their urging, the Coastal Commission delayed its vote and asked the fairgrounds and San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority to negotiate a compromise deal.

The new proposal up for a vote today calls for an additional 4.5-acre parcel — the lower third of the east overflow parking lot — to eventually be restored to wetlands, but gives the fairgrounds 10 years to phase out the 1,400 parking spots the land now holds.

The commission is also expected to vote on a separate permit covering events on the main fairgrounds property, including a new fall horse racing meet that would start in 2014.

The wetland restoration plan is backed by the Joint Powers Authority, but not the 22nd District Agricultural Association, the agency that runs the state-owned fairgrounds.

Fair board President Frederick Schenk said Monday the venue can’t afford to lose that many parking spaces, especially during the busy summer fair and horse racing season.

“Enough is enough,” Schenk said. “We have agreed to do a tremendous amount, but this is where we draw the line.”

County Supervisor Dave Roberts — a member of the Joint Powers Authority — said Tuesday that he supports the recommendation. He said the 10-year period would give the fairgrounds enough time to find parking alternatives.

“There are lots of alternative options available to them and if there is a timeline they know what they are working for,” Roberts said.

For years, the fairgrounds used the land near the mouth of the river for overflow parking without the approval of the Coastal Commission in violation of the Coastal Commission Act.

Last year, the two agencies reached a settlement that calls on the fairgrounds to return some of the parking lots back to wetlands. The permit would allow the fairgrounds to continue using much of the area east of the fairgrounds — between Jimmy Durante Boulevard and Interstate 5 — as overflow parking, a golf driving range and for seasonal events.

Dick Bobertz, executive director of the San Dieguito River Park, said the Joint Powers Authority offered the 10-year phase out as a compromise to the fairgrounds.

Schenk rejected the proposal saying that “there was never an agreement with regards to turning east overflow parking lot over for restoration.”